Happy Passover Round-Up

Passover is almost here, which means a very limited diet for some, but fear not, as there are still plenty of delicious goodies to eat.  I've assembled a round up of Passover friendly eats for you here, and feel free to chime in with your suggestions too!

Chocolate Matzoh - There's nothing like a beautiful matzoh on this non-bready holiday, and I love decking mine in chocolate and fancy accouterments such as pistachios or dried fruit.  Here's a simple recipe for a dark chocolate truffled sea salt matzoh I made last year.  

Homemade Macaroons - A very different but equally delicious treat that sounds similar to the elegant French confection, this one is coconutey, a little creamy and often drizzled with chocolate, in honor of this holiday.

Classic Chicken Soup - One year, I decided to make a from scratch chicken soup, instead of having my hand in dessert and it came out great.  I recommend it, as it's low maintenance and goes a long way.  Anyone from adults to very small children will find comfort in this classic. 

Matzoh Brei - Another Passover staple, Matzoh Brei always wins big point, especially as a breakfast dish.  It's made of eggs and milk-soaked matzoh that creates a comforting dish not unlike Mexican chilaquiles.  

Shakshuka - The recent recipe I've tried for Shakshuka would also make a nice Passover dish, not so much for a Seder but more for the everyday weekly meal.  All you need is 5 simple ingredients, including eggs, tomatoes, spices and olive oil and you've got yourself a hearty breakfast or dinner.

Happy and Sweet Passover with Homemade Macaroons

Happy Passover to all my fellow Jewish readers!  For those of you who celebrate, you'll know it's a fun time to see family and friends, remember and observe the unique dietary suggestions of this holiday, to not eat bread.  While I don't exactly uphold this standard, I know many who do, making creative uses of matzoh - whether using it in place of sandwich bread, pasta, or what have you.

Something else that's pretty common to use during Passover, especially when indulging in desserts is coconut.  Macaroons are a known sweet thing during this holiday and while there are many varieties available in the supermarket or your local bakery, it's also really fun and easy to make them at home.  Here's my version, which I've adapted from a recipe from the April issue of Food Network magazine.  Enjoy with a hot cup of coffee or tea.

Homemade Macaroons:

Ingredients (serves 4)
3 egg whites
3 tbs of sugar
Pinch of salt
3 cups of shredded coconut
1/3 cup of golden raisins or currants (whatever you have in the house - you can also use chocolate chips)
1 tsp of orange or lemon zest
3 - 4 tbs of dark chocolate, melted

Directions:
Whisk the egg whites, sugar and salt until frothy.  Stir in the coconut, currants or golden raisins and the lemon or orange zest (I used the latter).  Drop by packed tablespoons onto an oiled or buttered baking sheet.  Bake at 325 until golden for 25-30 minutes.  Let cool and dunk in melted dark chocolate.  Put in the fridge until the chocolate solidifies.  The macaroons taste delicious when chilled.